<p>Hi! I am interested in chemical engineering and understand that this discipline is actually not in the college of engineering. How does that work? Are the classes separate from other engineering classes? Do you feel a part of the arts and sciences or the engineers? It's interesting and I'm curious how it works. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure chemical engineering is part of the college of engineering…</p>
<p>The department of Chemical and Biomolecular engineering at the University of Illinois is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.</p>
<p>Although it’s in LAS, you will likely be required to take all the pre-reqs required of engineers (the Calculus and Physics sequences), as well as engineering courses. In that regard, it will have an engineering ‘feel’ about it. On the other hand, you won’t be isolated from people in the traditional liberal arts and sciences fields. For instance, you’ll run into some Math majors in your Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations classes. Also, your gen ed classes will likely have many arts majors in them - you can take courses such as sociology, the classics, psychology, and history. </p>
<p>Although it’s a technical degree, you will definitely walk away with a well-rounded education.</p>
<p>Chemical Engineering is administered and taught by College of Engineering professors. It is under LAS because the program originated there, and remains only for historical reasons. For all intents and purposes you are in the College of Engineering, need engineering stats (gpa, test scores) to get in to the program, and transfer to another engineering program is considered an intra-college transfer.</p>
<p>We attended the LAS section at the open house and specifically asked about this. The presenter indicated for Chemical and Biomedical Engineering they waive the usual 4 years of language in high school (or passing equivalency exams) since the schedule is so full for that major. Those kids have to only have 3 years of foreign language (or equivalent). But, for example, if my son switches to regular chemistry, he better take into account the language requirement change. The presenter indicated a student <em>could</em> switch to another engineering program (in the College of Engineering) but some programs were pretty full, so not every direction change was guaranteed.</p>
<p>Not a ChemE nor am I attending UIUC, but my mother was (waaaay back) and we visited recently and asked our tour guide (a ChemE) all about this.</p>
<p>As stated above the foreign language requirement is waived. You have access to EVERYTHING people in the engineering college do. Ex: there is a special computer lab in one of the buildings that has software and printing you’ll find useful, which is only for the College of Engineering AND chemical engineers.</p>
<p>Essentially all requirements and privileges of the CoE are yours. Most any, if not all, specific requirements of the Liberal Arts College have been waived.</p>
<p>From what I heard from a few people at UI (not directly from professors though), was that the Chemical Engineers want to be part of the College of Engineering, but can’t get the LAS to let them go. LAS doesn’t want to let them go because the Chemical Engineering Department brings in lots of money for LAS, so essentially they removed anything that makes it different for the students, but it has serious funding repercussions elsewhere.</p>